Vietnam – Land of History – 11 Days/10 Nights

“Vietnam travel guide” will provide a lot of useful information for tourist when comming Vietnam such as weather, transportation, destinations and foods as well.

Itinerary in Brief:

Day 1 – Hanoi Arrival (-/-/D)
Welcome up on arrival in Hanoi by tour guide and driver, privately transfer to hotel. After checking in, we enjoy our welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant in town. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2 – Hanoi – City tour (B/L/D)
Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex, where we will spend a couple of hour to visit: Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh museum and one pillar pagoda… Keep going to see the Temple of Literature.
Follow this, enjoy Lunch at K.O.T.O restaurant. K.O.T.O. Continue by a one hour cycle ride around Hanoi’s Old Quarter. It was once the heart of Hanoi and is still an unbelievable sensory overload; its bustling functionality will astound all first time visitors. Following this we visit the infamous Hanoi ‘Hilton’ prison and then we visit Dong Xuan market and enjoy a Water Puppet show and then head back to the hotel for our dinner. Relax after that. Dinner and overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi Capital of Vietnam

Day 3 – Hanoi – Halong Bay (Overnight on deluxe junk cruise) (B/L/D)
Travel through the lust green field in the Red River Delta to the coast and to wonderful Ha Long bay.
On arrival at the Halong Bay wharf at around lunch time, we transfer from our vehicle to our deluxe junk, join our fantastic seafood lunch, and cruise around this tranquil bay, marvel at 3000 limestone peaks that emerge from the emerald water. We have opportunity to visit spectacular Amazing cave crammed with stalactites and stalagmites; and if the weather permits we will swim from our boat.
Having dinner on board and enjoy a magical night.
Overnight on Junk Cruise.

Day 4 – Halong Bay – Hanoi – Night train to Hue (B/L/D)

Halong Bay

Our breakfast at 7h00, we then prepare to continue on kayaking to explore the Bay. We paddle from Luon Cave toward islets in shape of Man’s head, Tortoise. Follow by this, be back to boat for lunch. Then pack our luggage and take out of our cabin (for crew members prepare rooms for coming passengers). Lunch today will be served sooner than usual as we will return to the main harbor at around midday.

Disembark the junk; transfer back to Hanoi for our night train to Hue. Overnight on train.

Day 5 – Hue – City tour (B/L/D)
On arrival in Hue, transfer to hotel for our breakfast then relax for a while.
Hue is known as an ancient Capital city of many original historical vestiges. There are more than 100 architectural works to be extremely reflected the life of Emperors and Mandarins under Nguyen’s reign. Situated in the middle of hills on the Southern Bank of Perfume River are very beautiful tombs of Nguyen Kings.
Transferred to the Wharf where we will cruise along the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda (The Heavenly Lady pagoda), from here we will have a good view of Perfume River and surroundings. And boating to Tu Duc King’s tomb, which is one of the most beautiful works of Royal Architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb lies in a boundless pine forest.
Then we transfer back to the city for our delicious lunch at a fine local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City; and Dong Ba market. Then relax at hotel.

Day 6 – Hue – DMZ (B/L/D)
Early pick up at hotel in Hue, we will transfer to demilitarized zone along National way 1A. This morning we will visit the Ancient citadel of Quang Tri, Hien Luong Bridge, the Seventeenth Parallel – the border between North and South of Viet Nam during the war and Vinh Moc Tunnel. In the afternoon, we will follow the Highway No 9, visit Khe Sanh and Suspension Bridge of Dakrong. Then we return to Hue. Dinner and overnight in Hue.

Hue Imperial Citadel

Day 7 – Hue – Hoi An (B/L/D)
After breakfast at the hotel, we travel by vehicle to Hoi An along scenic highway 1A. Along the way we will stop to contemplate the stunning views North, to Lang Co Beach and South to Danang city. Danang city with Cham Museum – the houses of the most complete collection if Cham Artifacts anywhere in the world; China Beach – where the American named and used to have their Rest and Relaxation; and the Marble Mountain – the five elements of the Universe (water, wood, air, fire and earth). We will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon, relax. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Day 8 – Hoi An – My Lai massacre – fly to Ho Chi Minh city (B/L/D)

Hoi An

Travel south of Hoi An after about 2,5 hour driving we reach to My Lai massacre. Then spend an hour there to see the complex of Massacre with Monument, The House of Evidence where documents, photos, and objects which testify to the massacre such as shirts, a pair of sandal of a killed child, all kinds of cups and plates, cookers and pans holed by cartridge, and wooden bells used for reciting prayers. All of them stir deep feelings in the visitors.
After this, drive to My Tra riverbank of Quang Ngai city for our lunch in the local restaurant. In the afternoon, enjoy a visit Holly Temple city of My Son which date back more than a thousand years ago. Afterward heading back to Da Nang airport to take flight to Ho Chi Minh city.
Welcome up on arrival in HCM city, then transfer to hotel, and then enjoy dinner at a fine local restaurant in town. Overnight in HCM city.

Day 9 – Ho Chi Minh City tour – (B/L/D)

Saigon

Depart hotel for the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam. After that we will visit War Remnant Museum, where we can see countless artifacts, photographs and pictures documenting about the second Indochina war. We also stop at Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post office to get good shots for our memory of the big, modern city of Vietnam. Lunch will be served at a nice restaurant in the central city.

In the afternoon, depart for Cu Chi tunnels (known as the “Iron Triangle” or “Iron Land”) drive through pleasant countryside; rubber plantations and rice paddies. Before entering the tunnels, see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various man traps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers. After that we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Dinner and overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 9 – Ho Chi Minh City tour – Cu Chi tunnel (B/L/D)

Cu Chi Tunnels

Depart hotel for the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam. After that we will visit War Remnant Museum, where we can see countless artifacts, photographs and pictures documenting about the second Indochina war. We also stop at Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post office to get good shots for our memory of the big, modern city of Vietnam. Lunch will be served at a nice restaurant in the central city.

In the afternoon, depart for Cu Chi tunnels (known as the “Iron Triangle” or “Iron Land”) drive through pleasant countryside; rubber plantations and rice paddies. Before entering the tunnels, see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various man traps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers. After that we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Dinner and overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 11 – Ho Chi Minh city – Departure (B/-/-)
Today our awaiting vehicle will transfer us back to the airport to take our flight to home. Trip ends.